Pages

Friday, November 23, 2012

'Kill the Gays" bill back before Ugandan parliment

Readers of this blog know that we have our own local villain in Springfield-- "Rev." Scott Lively. Join us on December 7 for a standout for International Human Rights Day-- details to follow. Take action!

Act now to stop the "Kill the Gays" bill in Uganda.

Join the global outcry now and make sure Museveni keeps his promise to veto.

Dear amy,Uganda's infamous "Kill the Gays" bill is back. If it passes,
this horrific law would allow the death penalty for lesbian and gay
Ugandans. It could pass at any moment.
President Museveni once promised to veto this heinous bill. But
Uganda's politicians are desperate to pass the bill and they're
pressuring Museveni to give in. The Speaker of the Parliament is
actually calling it a "Christmas gift" to Uganda!Last May, millions of us stood up with activists from across
Uganda to stop this very same law - and it worked. Now we have to do it
again. We need to take action and share this far and
wide. We need every voice to build a massive outcry that the media and
world leaders can't ignore. The pressure could be enough to stop this bill in its tracks:www.allout.org/uganda
According to our partners, the bill is now up for debate and can be
voted on at any moment. As Ugandan politicians work to finalize the the
text of the bill, one thing is clear - if passed, it will force lesbian, gay, bi and trans Ugandans into the shadows.
Despite global opposition, some politicians in Uganda refuse to give
up the bill and one is even calling for a new regional law, that would
send every gay person in Africa to jail – for life.If this bill passes in Uganda, it wouldn't just mean tragedy
for gay and lesbian Ugandans – it could set off a domino effect across
the continent. Will you add your name and ask your friends to sign with you now?www.allout.org/uganda
These politicians are using homophobia to distract Ugandans – and the world –
from the very real problems they're supposed to be addressing at home,
from corruption to freedom of the media. They're playing political games
with people's very lives and lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans Ugandans
will pay a steep price if they win.
With millions of us together, we helped knocked this bill off course once before. Our friends in Uganda need to know we still have their backs. Sign now and then ask your friends to get on board – there's no time to lose!www.allout.org/uganda
This global movement for the simple right to live and love freely is
unstoppable. But, as this hateful bill shows, there are still many
hurdles in the historic battle for human rights and full equality. This is one of those milestone moments, and by raising your voice you are making a huge difference.
Thanks for going All Out.
Best,
Andre, Hayley, Jeremy, Sara and the rest of the All Out team.

November 21, 2012, New York, NY –
In response to today’s
announcement that the Ugandan parliament has reintroduced its notorious
anti-homosexuality bill, the Center for Constitutional Rights issued the
following
statement:

The Center
for Constitutional Rights strongly condemns the Ugandan parliament’s
reintroduction of its notorious Anti-Homosexuality Bill. Whether
the bill is passed into law or not, it intensifies a climate of hatred
and persecution of the Ugandan LGBTI community, where activists have
been outed in the press, attacked and killed. While we have not yet seen
the current version of the bill, earlier versions
have led to the death penalty for homosexual acts between consenting
adults, criminalized writing, speaking, demonstrating, or otherwise
advocating for LGBTI rights, and required extended prison sentences for
anyone
– including family members, doctors and clergy – who does not turn a suspected member of the LGBTI community over to the authorities.

The
reintroduction of this bill comes, as it has several times in the past,
at a time of political turmoil in Uganda. It serves as a convenient
distraction from foreign aid embezzlement scandals, a pension scam
involving a high-level government official and a damaging UN report on
Uganda’s role in the Congo.

U.S.
evangelicals have played a major role in fomenting this hate as well as
creating the legislative strategy, which puts a special onus on the
U.S. government to publicly condemn the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The
Center for Constitutional Rights stands with Sexual Minorities Uganda
and everyone in Uganda fighting for the rights of LGBTI people, and we
join international calls for this bill to be stopped
once and for all.

The Center for Constitutional Rights brought the case
Sexual Minorities Uganda v. Lively against Abiding Truth Ministries President Scott Lively for his anti-gay efforts in Uganda, including his efforts to strip
away fundamental rights form LGBTI persons in Uganda.

The
Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and
protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Founded in 1966 by attorneys who represented civil rights movements in
the South, CCR is a non-profit legal and educational organization
committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social
change. Visit
www.ccrjustice.org and follow @theCCR.

No comments:

Subscribe to our Enewsletter:

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

Arise for Social Justice

We're a Western MA low-income rights organization which believes we have the right to speak for ourselves. Our members are poor, homeless, at-risk, working, unemployed & people pushed to the side by society. We organize!-- voting rights, homelessness, housing, health care, criminal injustice & more!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Help Support Community Organizing!

iGive..do you?

Join iGive.com and shop through their website at hundreds of national and local merchants get some great discounts (especially for the holidays) and help Arise raise money at the same time.